SJRCS Wildcat Newsletter
May 31, 2024
Letter from the Principal
Dear SJRCS Families,
It is hard to believe we will be wishing a fond farewell to 52 graduates, the Class of 2024. Some of them have been here since Pre-K, while others just joined us this year; but no matter how long they have been here at SJRCS, we hope that they bring all they have learned here with them to their chosen high schools in the fall. Some students will be attending Urbana High School’s IB program; others will be going to St John Catholic Prep, Frederick Christian Academy, Monocacy Valley Montessori Public Charter, Oakdale, Thomas Johnson, Walkersville, Linganore, Urbana, Brunswick, and Frederick High Schools. Some of our graduates will be attending high schools a little farther away: Archbishop Spaulding, Mount de Sales Academy, St. James, St. Timothy, Our Lady of Good Counsel, Mount St. Joseph, Roland Park, and St. John College High School. But no matter where they attend high school, we want to wish them the best of luck as they start out on the next part of their educational journeys.
As the school year comes to a close, we are looking forward to a week filled with exciting events. Field day is a day of fun activities that promote teamwork, laughter, and enjoyment for students. We also look forward to end-of-year class parties to celebrate the friendships we've made and the experiences we've shared throughout the year. It's a time to reflect on our hard work and accomplishments and to look forward to new adventures. The week ends with a special liturgy where we come together to give thanks and celebrate the blessings of the year. It's a time to remember the values and lessons we've learned and look to the future with hope.
Of course, we hope to see everyone at our annual spring fair, which is the last HSA event of the year, tonight at Urban Air.
In Christ,
Mrs. Kim Hanner
Field Day Colors & Parent Volunteer Sign-Up
Wednesday, June 5th, is field day! Students should wear a t-shirt in accordance with their grade's color:
Class Colors to wear for the day:
PK - Red
Kindergarten - Blue
1st grade - Purple
2nd grade - Yellow
3rd grade - Green
4th grade - Orange
5th grade - Blue
6th grade - Red
7th grade - Pink
We are also looking for parent volunteers to help with Field Day. Please click here for the Sign-Up Genius **All volunteers must be VIRTUS certified**
Thank You for the Gaga Ball Pit Donations!
Courageous, Responsible, Unselfish, and Christlike. We encourage our students to live up to our motto each and every day and they sure came through in their efforts to come together as a school and raise money for a new gaga ball pit. Three 6th graders with an idea sparked determination throughout the school, and together, the students raised over $2,000...well over their goal to purchase a new gaga ball pit for the 2024-2025 school year. Well done, Wildcats and thank you to our Wildcat parents for making it happen!
Congratulations to 3rd grade for raising the most money and winning lunch in the Mary Garden!
Summer Reading
Summer Reading is strongly recommended. Summer reading lists and assignments will be posted on the SJRCS website by June 7th.
During the summer, many students believe learning should come to a halt. However, if they don't read books during this time, they are at risk of losing the progress they made throughout the year. Often referred to as summer reading loss or summer setback, research has indicated that students can lose up to three months’ worth of their reading skills if they don't read over the summer. According to Megan Kuhfeld and Andrew McEachin from NWEA MAP Testing, this loss can accumulate over time and lead to significant deficits by the time a child finishes elementary school.
To prevent this from happening, it is recommended that all students engage in summer reading.
While this year we will not be using the math workbooks we used last year, students are expected to keep up to date with their math skills over the summer. Current students with IXL accounts should log in regularly throughout the summer to practice their skills. Please be sure your student knows his/her username and password. Incoming students who do not have IXL accounts yet are encouraged to continue practicing math skills appropriate to their current grade level. KhanAcademy.org is a great resource for those looking to keep up with their math skills.
End of the Year Health Room/Medication Reminders
The last day of school is June 6th, 2024. It is SJRCS policy that students are not permitted to take their medications home at the end of the year. A parent/guardian must pick up all medications in the health room by the end of the school day on June 6, 2024. To arrange for pick-up please contact health room staff directly or stop by during school hours. All non-emergency medications and expired medications of any kind remaining in the health room will be destroyed at the end of the school year, unless alternate arrangements have been made directly with the school nurse.
Vaccination Requirements for 2024-2025 School Year
As a reminder all incoming Kindergartners and all incoming 7th Graders require updated vaccine records to be sent to the Health Room. Two (2) doses of varicella (chicken pox) vaccine and two (2) doses of MMR (measles, mumps and rubella) vaccine are required for all students entering Kindergarten. A single dose of Tdap (tetanus, diphtheria, and aceullular pertussis) vaccine and a single dose of MCV4 (meningitis) vaccine are required for all students entering 7th grade.
Medications
All medication/treatment authorization form(s) must be renewed at the beginning of each school year. Ensure that the appropriate authorization form is completed by your healthcare provider. Forms are available online at www.sjrcs.org (Click on Parents tab, then Health Forms).
To ensure your child's medication/treatment needs are met at the start of the school year contact the health room on or after August 19, 2024, to arrange a drop off time for medications/supplies and completed forms. Health room staff will review medication/treatment authorization forms and medications with the parent/guardian to ensure compliance with state regulations. If the medication/treatment authorization forms and/or medications do not meet compliance, it is the responsibility of the parent/guardian to follow up with their health care provider.
It is the responsibility of the parent/guardian to deliver medication/treatment authorization form(s) and medications directly to health room staff. Please do not send your child to school with medications.
Please contact Mrs. Froude, RN at kfroude@sjrcs.org if you have any questions.
Shout Out to Peter Lewis!
Peter Lewis made it to the semifinals at the National Science Bee in Orlando, Florida last weekend placing among the top 18 out of 150 students! Way to go, Peter!
'24-'25 Wildcat Aftercare Registration
June Lunch Menu
School Calendar
You may click on the picture to open calendar view
May:
31 (Fri) Day of Service: Grade 8
June:
3 (Mon) End of Year Parties Grades PK3&4, 1, 3, 5, 7
3 (Mon) 8th Grade Noon Dismissal - 8th Grade ONLY
4 (Tue) Noon Dismissal - No Wildcat Care - End of Year Parties Grades K, 2, 4, 6
4 (Tue) 8th Grade Graduation 2 p.m.
5 (Wed) Noon Dismissal - No Wildcat Care Field Day
6 (Thu) Noon Dismissal - No Wildcat Care - Last Day for Students Mass 10 AM
H.S.A. News & Information
See you at the Spring Fair tonight!
We can’t wait to see you at Urban Air Frederick this evening. Please remember to fill out waivers for those participating prior to the event. This will significantly reduce wait time and maximize play time! Waivers can be found here.
If you have any questions, feel free to reach out to the HSA Board at hsasjrcs@gmail.com.
Garden Committee Update
Please sign up here to volunteer with the Garden Committee in May or for any future dates. Tuition credit hours are available for volunteers. Forgot to sign-up using the Sign-Up Genius? No Problem! You can still come out and join us . No green thumbs or tools required, but if you have any general gardening tools or gardening gloves, those are always good supplies to bring with you. Please contact Cindy Guilday at cmguilday@gmail.com with any questions about the clean-up dates or in the event of inclement weather.
St. John the Evangelist Art Camp
Financial Aid Deadlines
06/30/2024 - St John Regional Catholic School (SJRCS) - Grant & Aid Application and 2021 Taxes/All Supporting Documents Uploaded
IMPORTANT: You only need to apply once through FACTS Grant & Aid to be considered for tuition assistance through the AOB, FOCE, FCPTAF and St. John Regional Catholic School.
Please Note: There is a FACTS Grant & Aid application fee of $35.00
Notable Dates for the 2024-2025 School Year
Please review PDF below for next year's calendar
Updated Parent/Student Handbook
As we progress through the year, new trends and fads (e.g., Hey Dude Shoes, Stanley Water Bottles, technology usage) have affected our need to update the Parent/Student Handbook. The latest version of the handbook is attached for your review.
Contact Us
Saint John Regional Catholic School
8414 Opposumtown Pike
Frederick, MD 21702
301-662-6722
“The joy of the Lord is your strength” (Nehemiah 8:10)
Our Mission: The mission of St. John Regional Catholic School is to provide a Christ-centered environment and an exemplary education to each and every student within the framework of the Gospel and the traditions of the Catholic Church. The goal of our faith community is to develop future leaders for the 21st century through academic excellence, service to others, and a firm foundation of Christian virtues.
Parent Resources
You can find all of these links under the 'Parent' tab on the SJRCS website
Maryland School Safety Tip Line
This tip line is offered to expand the means for students, staff, and the community to come forward if they are aware of threats, possible self-harm by a student or other behavior that could adversely impact a particular school community. The tip line is administered through a partnership of the Maryland Center for School Safety and the Maryland Department of Emergency Management.